Irish surnames are all based on the Gaelic language native to Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name McOsker is Mag Uidhir, which is derived from the word odhar, meaning dun-colored; in the genitive case, the word is uidhir.

McOsker Early Origins

The surname McOsker was first found in County Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster.

McOsker Spelling Variations

McOsker Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name McOsker dating from that time include MacCosker, MacCusker, MacOsker, MacOscar and many more.

McOsker Early History

McOsker Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McOsker research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McOsker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McOsker Early Notables (pre 1700)

McOsker Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early McOsker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute do to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United Sates and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the McOsker family relocated to North American shores quite early:

Somerset Fry, Peter and Fiona Somerset Fry. A History of Ireland. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1993. Print. (ISBN 1-56619-215-3).

McDonnell, Frances. Emigrants from Ireland to America 1735-1743 A Transcription of the report of the Irish House of Commons into Enforced emigration to America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-1331-5).

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The McOsker Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The McOsker Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.